Atalanta held by Slavia, Roma beaten by Plzen in Europa League

Atalanta were held to a goalless draw by Slavia Prague in Bergamo on Wednesday as a separate Italian side, Roma, suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Viktoria Plzen in Europa League action, extending a difficult midweek for clubs from Serie A.

At the Gewiss Stadium, Atalanta dominated large periods but could not break down a compact Slavia side, finishing 0-0 after a match of missed chances and several key saves. Slavia goalkeeper Jakub Markovic produced a string of stops, denying Odilon Kossounou, Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca, while Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi reacted well to keep out a late threat from David Moses. The draw leaves Atalanta on four points in Group stage play as they prepare to travel to Marseille next, and Slavia on two points ahead of a home meeting with Arsenal.

Atalanta created the clearer openings throughout, with De Ketelaere twice coming close and substitutes such as Kamaldeen Sulemana and Scamacca failing to convert one-on-one opportunities. Slavia defended in numbers and threatened on the break, but neither side managed a clinical finish in a tense contest that underscored Atalanta’s ongoing difficulty in turning possession into goals this...